house speaker john boehner will be at the meeting today. the house will convene for a rare sunday evening session. house majority leader eric cantor says the house could be in session until january 2nd, the day before the new congress is sworn in. boehner, meanwhile, maintains that it's up to the senate to act first. >>> millions of americans may watch the ball drop new year's eve in times square, but a group of democrats is organizing its own ball drop on capitol hill. they'll launch their countdown today. their ball represents republicans dropping the ball on middle class families should lawmakers fail to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. >>> new this morning, iran's state television is reporting the country's navy started training drills in the strait of hormuz. that area sees 20% of the oil pass through it. the state tv report says that the programs include more ships, submarines and jet fighters. they've warned other ships to stay away from the site until after the new year. >>> melissa mollet joins us from the live desk with mor